VEGFA and gastric cancer: Other newly identified HIF-1α-regulating downstream molecules that are closely related to GC EMT and metastasis include N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2),465 CXCR4,466 liver X receptor α (LXRα),467 and RhoE.468 The underlying mechanism of HIF-1α-induced angiogenesis in GC may be relevant to the crosstalk between the HIF-1α pathway and the STAT3 pathway or β-catenin/VEGF signaling.469,470 HIF-1α has been proven to be a druggable target, and pharmacologic manipulation of HIF-1α is under investigation as a novel therapeutic approach to GC.